Work delayed due to technical issues
Tsewang Rigzin
LEH, July 29: Drilling of India’s first geothermal power project, a one-megawatt pilot initiative, will begin tomorrow at Puga valley here. This zero-carbon renewable energy project, managed by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), is located in the geothermally active Puga Valley, about 190 km from Leh city, at an altitude exceeding 14,000 feet.
Excelsior is the only media organisation to reach the construction site following the resumption of work, which had been paused due to technical issues and environmental concerns raised by activists in Leh Ladakh.
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Nawang Thinlas, Director of Himalayan Renewable Energy & Construction Firm (HRECF), who is the coordinator of the project, claimed that all environmental concerns previously raised by environmental activists and wildlife enthusiasts have been taken care of.
“The initial phase is underway with completion of foundation work which is called the Celler Pit,” he added.
Sunil Kumar, Project Associate at ONGC Energy Centre, who is stationed at the project site, said, “Drilling a 1,000-meter well is starting soon. The pilot project aims for one megawatt of power generation, with additional benefits including space heating for locals during winter, aquaculture, agriculture, and tourism activities like lagoon spas.”
Kumar added that the expected temperature at 1,000 meters (1km) depth is 200 degrees Celsius, sufficient for the one-megawatt power generation. Drilling will be completed this working season, with the pilot phase of the thermal power plant slated for the next season.
A tri-partite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2021 by the UT Administration of Ladakh, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Leh, and ONGC outlines the project’s phases. Phase 1 involves one MW power generation with free power supplied to the public. Phase 2 includes deeper exploration and setting up a higher-capacity demo plant, while Phase 3 will see commercial development based on discovered capacity.
Delays were attributed to technical issues, but ONGC said it has upgraded its equipment and awarded the contract to SEROS Drilling Private Ltd. Consultants and experts from Iceland experienced in geothermal energy are being consulted in the execution of the project.
Kumar said that Puga Valley spans 5 square kilometers of geothermal potential with nearby areas like Chumathang also showing promise. “Studies suggest that if reservoirs in Puga and Chumathang are connected, the potential could exceed 200 megawatts, “ he said, assuring that no environmentally hazardous chemicals would be used.
Work will continue until late October before pausing for winter due to harsh conditions.
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